Legislation to Help Improve Maternal and Infant Health

State Representative Andrea White’s (R-Kettering) legislation to address Ohio’s s staggering infant and maternal mortality rates and improve mothers’ and infants’ health, learning and development outcomes has been signed by Governor DeWine.

The legislation, named the Strong Foundations Act, provides access to critical prenatal, postnatal, infant and toddler services and supports to help children, mothers and families thrive during the first 1,000 days of life. 

To accomplish this multi-pronged approach, House Bill 7 expands existing evidence-based strategies, adds innovative approaches and technology, while leveraging the power of relationships in local communities to move the needle for Ohioans. This critical care is especially crucial in Ohio where more than 1 in 150 Ohio babies don’t live to see their first birthday. 

“This bill is not what we had hoped to pass this GA, but it is something,” said Representative White. “And if it gets us to the next right step and most importantly saves and changes lives in the process, we are at least moving forward.”

Ohio is ranked 44th in infant mortality and 31st in infant maltreatment. The problem impacts both rural and urban counties, White said.  One in five infants and toddlers live in poverty, and 2,000 are in foster care.

“I am grateful that we were able to receive consideration of the needs of our most vulnerable citizens and their families from the House and Senate in order to pass H.B. 7.  Now more than ever, Ohio mothers and young children need us to come alongside them.  As the nation’s 11th largest state and birthplace of so much innovation, we are scraping the bottom compared to others in many categories that have to do with our pregnant moms, our infants and our young children,” said White.

“The strategies in this bill are proven to generate a strong return on investment – both already here in Ohio and around the nation – both in terms of saving lives, improving the long-term trajectory of our tiniest citizens and their families…and in saving costs so we have more resources to invest in solutions that work for Ohio families,” said White.

Key provisions of the final bill include requiring the Ohio Department of Health to report to the legislature on the modernization of WIC that is ongoing, 

The legislation will also expand access to evidence-based support programs to home visiting programs like Help Me Grow, Nurse Family Partnership, Healthy Families America, and Parents as Teachers in targeted rural, Appalachian and other communities where gaps in services exist.

White is sponsoring House Bill 7 with State Representative Latyna Humphrey (D-Columbus). The legislation having passed both chambers with constitutional majority and being signed by the governor, will now become law.